If you’ve been with us for a couple of years, you’ll know that the BAFTA nominations infuriate me on an annual basis. However, my therapist recently advised me that I need to heal my relationship with BAFTA through forgiveness, so I’ll lead with few the things that pleased me about this morning’s announcement.
For one thing, though the longlists already tipped us off to most of the “surprises” here, I’m happy to see Julianne Moore finally nominated alongside her “The Kids Are All Right” co-star Annette Bening in a serious Best Actress race. Pete Postlethwaite’s posthumous nomination for “The Town” (his first from BAFTA, unbelievably, and the only one for Ben Affleck’s film) is shamelessly rooted in sentiment, but happily, it happens to come for a striking mini-performance anyway.
While it was inevitable that Brit hit “The King’s Speech” would lead the field, it’s nice to “Black Swan” close behind with 12 nods, including mentions for its contemporary production and costume design.
I’m glad BAFTA voters have partially forgiven Mike Leigh: with only two nominations, neither of them for his screenplay, “Another Year” got less than its due, but it’s an improvement on his 2008 donut for “Happy-Go-Lucky.” And while the unpreviewed Best British Film category could be more adventurous (“Neds,” people? “Monsters?”), voters at least put a stop to “Kick-Ass”‘s grim run through the British awards circuit.
Okay, I’m done being nice. Despite odd commendable details, this remains a list riddled with lame-brained decisions, many of which show up crippling flaws in BAFTA’s voting system. Theirs is the reverse of the AMPAS drill: while the winners in each category are determined by the applicable voting branch (or “chapter,” in BAFTAspeak), the entire BAFTA membership votes on the nominees across the board. And the cluelessness of some voters about crafts unrelated to theirs is all too evident in some cases.
How else to explain “TRON Legacy” (one of the VFX chapter’s top five choices, as marked on the longlists) missing out for Best Visual Effects, while “Toy Story 3” slides in? Or “Winter’s Bone” (again, a chapter pick) losing out to “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” in Best Adapted Screenplay? (Debra Granik’s film, by the way, gets zero respect from BAFTA, with Jennifer Lawrence cockblocked — again — by the Lisbeth Salander phenomenon.) How is this a preferable way to run things?
Over in Best Score, we know that the music branch would have nominated Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, but their work evidently went over the heads of the non-pros, who replaced it with “127 Hours.” “The Social Network,” by the way, didn’t have the best of mornings: with only six bids, it’s the least-nominated of BAFTA’s five Best Film contenders, further suggesting that we’re likely in for a night of patriotic “King’s Speech” petting. (Side note: the nomination leader, or co-leader, hasn’t lost the top prize at the BAFTAs since 2003.)
Of course, some of the most vexing decisions here were also made by the voting chapters. I continue to be mystified by “Despicable Me”‘s showing in the race thus far, as it once more elbowed British production “The Illusionist” out of the animated race — in a banner year for the medium, could this trifle really be our third Oscar nominee?
I suspect many eyebrows will be raised by the Best Supporting Actress category, where, as foretold by the longlists, Barbara Hershey beat her younger, buzzier “Black Swan” co-star Mila Kunis to a nomination, despite the latter’s more impressive showing on the American awards trail. This is Hershey’s first major nod of the season — could BAFTA be previewing an Oscar surprise here, as they did with Alan Alda in 2004? I’m starting to wonder.
That’s not the only talking point in that race, as Golden Globe champ and de facto Oscar frontrunner Melissa Leo was frozen out, while her co-star Amy Adams made the cut. This isn’t the first time Adams has elbowed aside a more-hyped senior co-star at the BAFTAs — two years ago, Viola Davis was similarly snubbed for “Doubt.” When in doubt, British voters pick the name they know best. Or, to stick to my Twitter line: “If you’re an older actress and you want a BAFTA, do not co-star with Amy Adams. SHE WILL DEVOUR YOUR DREAMS.”
With Hailee Steinfeld rightly promoted to Best Actress (where she finds herself nominated in place of chapter choices Michelle Williams and Carey Mulligan), the Best Supporting Actress race is, again, the least predictable one here.
Anyway, enough from me. The BAFTAs will take place on Sunday 13 February. I plan to be in Berlin then — and frankly, the less I have to think about them, the better. Full list of nominations at The Circuit.
Comments
65 responses to “‘King’s Speech’ leads BAFTA list with 14 nods”
The brits voted more on Manville and Richardson so Leo got left off. Big ouch for her although i dont really think it hurts her THAT much.
Toy Story 3 for best visual effects ? Kinda cool.
They apparently loved True Grit.
I was hoping Harry Potter to dod better here… I dream of Eduardo Serra been nominated but i think i can put that thought to sleep.
Man, I wonder how much will power it took to resist from nominating The King’s Speech for Visual Effects.
Hans — I was thinking the same thing.
That said, there are some real gems here:
Boyle for Directing
Moore for Actress!
“The Town” and “Black Swan” supporting noms go to the veteran actors instead of the young’ns
Steinfeld in Lead (everyone can quit their bitching…)
Love that’s been absent all season long for Bardem, Moore, Hershey, Manville, Richardson.
Do we need to watch out for Noomi Rapace?
Pete Postlethwaite, “The Town”
Cool.
At least there were a few changes from the usual lists ( MADE IN DAGENHAM for instance or the Millenium movie ) but hardly any nominations for ANOTHER YEAR ? In the BRITISH Film Awards ? Reaaaaaaaaalllyyyyyyyyyyyy ?????? There’s definitely something wrong here. Maybe he should do a biopic on the rocky life of Myley Cyrus in a few years. He could be more lucky if he chose his stories with a bit more insight and depth
What the hell? The Illusionist? Did Guy say that movie was like a love letter to Scotland or something?
Oh, no Ghost Writer. =(
Whoah, comment fail. Let me rephrase.
What the hell? They left off The Illusionist? Didn’t Guy say that movie was like a love letter to Scotland or something?
You know, Black Swan kind of reminds me of Precious from last year. Tidy little film that keeps racking up notice after notice in producing, directing, acting, writing, and editing, while the bigger, badder boys duke it out for the wins in the big prizes. Precious comes out of nowhere to win the Adapted Screenplay Oscar, and suddenly we wonder how close it may have even gotten to the big prize.
Dylan: Not only that, it’s a British film. Still, the longlists prepared us for that embarrassing snub.
These nominations left me a bit puzzled.
Like Guy said on Twitter, “Toy Story 3” for Best Visual Effects above “TRON: Legacy” or “Iron Man 2” is a bit weird.
Even weirder: “Alice in Wonderland” for Best Score, snubbing “The Social Network”. What is strange, here, is not the snub: it’s that they picked Elfman when they could have gone for Rachel Portman (which won some awards this year + scored a british semi-prestige pic).
These nominations also show us that Best Actress is very volatile besides Portman and Bening and while Kidman and Lawrence have the lead they’re still a bit vulnerable. Can Rapace pull off a nom? Interesting.
Also: kudos to the BAFTAS for going with Hailee Steinfeld in the correct category. If you like her well enough, I suggest you vote her where she belongs. Meanwhile, I have to say, I’m baffled as to why she continues so ubiquitous. She gave a good performance but in a Best Actress field so rich in awesome performances this year, why go there?
Melissa Leo being snubbed is also interesting, but it is, I think, the effect of 1) intense British preferential vote on their own and 2) Melissa Leo’s lack of international fame. She should be fine anyway but I’d love to see the Best Sup. Actress race rekindled with a Helena/Amy win.
Moreover, I’m beginning to really worry that our 3rd nominee this year will be “Despicable Me” and not “Tangled” or “L’Illusioniste”, which makes me very, very sad. Four outstanding animated movies this year and two of them snubbed to make room for a mediocre/funny one? I don’t get it.
“Alice in Wonderland” continues to get nominations that will surely repeat at the Oscars but shouldn’t (Art Direction, Score, Costume Design, Visual Effects – !,…)
And finally I have to state that I can’t seem to understand why the deep love for “127 Hours” and I can’t find any other reason why besides it being Danny Boyle’s and british.
To the good surprises today:
Emma Stone deservedly got the Rising Star Award nomination.
Lesley Manville, Javier Bardem and Julianne Moore got a bit of a campaign boost (and Hershey and Richardson too but that won’t get nowhere I think).
“Black Swan” got a deserving Make-Up nom here, making them cleverer than Oscar voters from that branch.
I’m glad they went for all three adult cast members of “The Kids Are All Right”; I’d love for this to repeat at the Oscars.
And I have to praise their lovely gesture towards Pete Postlethwaite.
No Kunis… :(
Kinda surprising.
Original Score is great. NO The Social Network. Alice in Wonderland and How to Train your Dragon IN.
Julianne Moore in the fifth spot is the kind of thing Academy does every year as a surprise nominee (Maggie Gyllenhaal).
What a refreshing slate of nominees. I think it wins first prize for “most inspired from the usual list of people” award. There’s a couple straight out of nowheres (Postlethwaite) but it’s mostly a collection of deserving front runners and deserving people standing in the wings. Look at Supporting Actress! Well done Bafta for just barely giving us surprises.
I forgot that Emma Stone was announced some days ago. Never mind…
And another thing: isn’t it interesting that they went with 127 HOURS for almost everything (including Best Director) but Best Film, while TRUE GRIT got a lot of nominations as well (including Best Film) but didn’t manage to get nominated for Best Director?
I’d love it if Julianne Moore slipped into slot #5 for BA. It’d be the first time we had co-lead acting nominees since Thelma & Louise.
Nothing majorly surprising. I’m thinking a lot of Brits didn’t see many smaller films like Rabbit Hole, Winter’s Bone, Get Low, etc judging from some of the snubs here. As usual, the BAFTAs shouldn’t have much affect on the Oscars. Though I’m starting to wonder if that 5th Best Actress slot will be occupied by Hailee Steinfeld leaving room for someone like Jacki Weaver to push through in supporting.
Anyway, Loving my ‘Network’ boys Jesse and Andrew getting the attention they deserve, loving nominations for Javier Bardem and Lesley Manville (finally!), hoping Natalie Portman gets a speech writer (the girl deserves every best actress statue she gets but damn if she can’t speak in public), and just kinda loving Emma Stone in general (if I had my way she’d easily occupy one of the 5 Best Actress Oscar slots).
Oh and is it just me or does anyone else think that third nomination for Animated Feature is gonna go to Despicable Me?
Guy, just noticed you have Hailee in lead. But a Kidman snub? Risky! Nice touch with Wahlberg also, I’m thinking he’s in as well. And as much as I love Gosling and Williams I don’t think Blue Valentine made a big enough splash for them to make it in. But made you’ve heard differently. I hope I’m wrong there.
I like these nominations. I am smiling :)
does this take away from Melissa Leo’s chances of an Oscar win? no British support, not even nominated. If Amy wins this, she takes the lead.
If Lesley Manville gets nominated at the Oscars in this category (notice how Mila Kunis is fading?), Best Supporting Actress becomes a totally different game.
to bad the Oscar ballots are already in the counting process… BAFTA needs to start announcing earlier, imo
Good to see they have seen all 22 of the 2010 releases that deserve any praise, including the two Best Film nominees that haven’t even opened yet in the UK. What a relief!
Seriously, how embarassing is that slate of nominees. Sure, some of their citations are truly great – Julianne Moore! – but when you look at it as a whole, it’s a real shame.
the complete shut-out of BLUE VALENTINE and WINTER’S BONE breaks my heart.
Did anyone really expect The Social Network to get double digit nominations? I certainly didn’t, especially after seeing the shortlist.
The King’s Speech will sweep these awards, but I’m afraid it will be too little too late. If it can’t win the SAG, DGA or PGA, it’s Oscar Best Picture chances will be dead in the water.
What comes to my mind regarding the BAFTA-noms: Wouldn´t it be an intresting twist in the dramaturgy of this year´s race if Lesley Manville indeed gets a supporting nod? I know I wanted her to get nominated for leading, but I believe she probably has an outsider shot á la Gay Harden in supporting. Leo´s omission at the BAFTAs suggests that she might not be a shoo-in for the win yet. Or is it just wishful thinking to safe some suspense in at least one of the acting categories..?
Nobody’s been calling Leo a shoo-in. But I don’t think this supporting actress lineup makes a shred of difference to the Oscar race.
Guy, I didn´t mean to say that the BAFTA would have a major influence on the Academy, but if those members have the same idea in putting Manville into supporting, this would indeed preserve an intresting twist for this category.
And Leo is predicted by many pundits as a shoo-in for the win after her BFCA and HFPA-wins on the weekend. And I don´t agree about that until she also wins at the SAG.
i dont get it
why all the hate for TSN score
i thought it was phenomenal
The BAFTA’s are an embarrassment really, and I say that as a Brit.
The BAFTAs are an embarrassment really, and I say that as a Brit.
Co-signed. Annually.
Please, the BAFTAs crap all over the American awards groups. They put Steinfeld in lead, nominated Bardem and recognized Hershey’s VAST superiority to Kunis in that film. I’ll forever hold them in high esteem though for Fellowship > A Beautiful Mind, Brokeback > Crash and nominating ‘Eternal Sunshine’.
Bless their hearts for putting out a slate of nominees that differ from the one-track mind across the pond. Are these nominations perfect? No, but at least they show that there actually are other performances and accomplishments worth lauding than the ones showing up each and every time everywhere else.
I don’t really see why Guy et al. are moaning about it so much, it’s not like any awards-giving body are ever going to be perfect, and I’d rather see this (something different) than BAFTA picking the exact same that everyone else has.
Praising the BAFTA’s for making different choices when those choices are British films is kind of silly. They are as one-track as the Oscars-just with a British flavor.
@Graysmith: I don’t think it’s got anything to do with one-track minds, more that, as Guy pointed out, the irregularities of their voting system throws up some ridiculous nominees. I’m more than happy to see Bardem and Biutiful nominated, but Girl With The Dragon Tattoo as Best Foreign Film? Toy Story 3 for Best Visual Effects? Despicable Me instead of The Illusionist? Crazy system gives you crazy nominees.
@ Graysmith
Because other national awards-giving bodies actually manage to recognise their own nation’s film making talents rather than brown nose the Americans?
@John & vbn,
Bardem, Rapace, Hershey, Steinfeld in lead.. British what?
@Mark,
I’m not going to argue about their voting system, but it’s not like it’s producing such enormous irregularities that it’s worth getting upset about it. Frankly, none of this awards stuff is worth getting upset about. Just because my favourite doesn’t get picked doesn’t mean they’re any less good. And if BAFTA consistently disappoints you year after year you should know that well enough by now to let it slide off your back.
No Ghost Writer???? No Olivia Williams??
And well they REALLY didn’t like “Never let me go”, I would’ve loved to see Mulligan and (especially) Rachel Portman.
The only thing i like of this bad joke is JULIANNE MOORE!!! And I’m going to throw a proposition (to bloggers). Here i go: the Academy has proved to be incredibly influentiable so i think that we (readers) and you guys (bloggers, not only from “incontention” but from every blog) shoud start a heavy campaign/lobby for Moore’s nomination. LOL She just HAS to be nominated. Can you imagine a Best Actress line-up with Portman, Benning, Moore and Kidman??!!! HEAVEN
I’m torn. I want Hailee in lead if she’s nominated at the Oscars. But putting her in lead means bye-bye to Michelle’s chances at a nomination. I’m pretty sure Natalie-Annette-Jennifer-Nicole are locks at this point.
Harry Caul: It’s sweet that you think we hold any sway over Academy voters, but save your efforts — the ballots are in!
The most pleasant surprise are Social Network’s no-show for Score. Honestly the best decision by the voters.
2nd Best – Moore.
Pretty dull besides that.
@harry caul: Unfortunately, a campaign for Moore wouldn’t help anything any more. The AMPAS ballots were due last friday, so while I am extremely happy to see Moore nominated alongside Bening I doubt that this (and the huge love for her during the Globes) will help her anything to get an Oscar nod.
I love the list and there clearly are some (much needed) refreshing features, some of which I think will be reflected in the Oscar nominations – although probably not Pete Postlethwaite. You also have to remember that these are British awards and do not want to mirror the Oscars exactly – what would be the point. Brits will vote more British, just as AMPAS will go more American – what is wrong with that? No one had a problem with the haul of BAFTA’s won last year by Locker. Whilst Jennifer Lawrence has been snubbed in these noms, Manville has been similarly snubbed Stateside despite the raves she has received. It happens!! I feel that The Social Network has been appropriately nominated, but that said it probably will go on to win Director, Picture and Screenplay.
It is a real shame that the best directing job of the year – Coens for True Grit has been ignored.
Thank you, BAFTA!
Guy, and others, this kind of list (and eveyr year at this time, actually) is what most of us have been craving … diversity. Haven’t you, Guy, been saying how blah the season has been?
Best Actor: now a 3-way race for the last spot (Duvall, Bardem, Gosling).
Best Actress: more drama for the 4th and 5th spot: Rapace (excellent), Moore, Steinfeld making a case to bump out possibly Kidman and/or Williams.
Supp. Actor: who’s the last spot (Damon or Renner)? OR, someone else completely; Rockwell.
Supp. Actress: clusterf*ck, and I love it. Amy Adams (who I’ve felt has been getting gipped all season) is in while Leo doesn’t even make the cut! Drama. I also hope Manville can make it in now and shake things up. Furthermore, no matter how hot Kunis is, I’m ecstatic that Hershey got mentioned here. What will happen with this category? Will Weaver make it in? etc.
I don’t see how these noms can’t be anything but a breath of fresh air. Not being too big on Winter’s Bone; I’m not crying at the snubs. And I’m ecstatic for John Powell in the score category.
I AM sad by no showing of The Ghost Writer or Shutter Island. And no screenplay for Another Year is sad. And Toy Story 3 in FX … really?
But like I said, overall, phewwwwww. Variety!
To dig in deeper, Best Actor: 5th spot is Duvall (AMPAS fave) or Bardem (BAFTA support, late surge) or Gosling (prior nominee, loved performance).
Best Actress: Kidman & Williams susceptible to Rapace, Moore, & Steinfeld. And what WILL happen with Steinfeld?
Best Supporting Actress has only 3 locks, as I see it: Adams, Leo, and HBC (she’s shown up everywhere, hasn’t she?).
The other slots: Weaver? Very possible. Steinfeld? Lots of people voting Lead for her. Kunis? Nice nods, but enough for 5th? Hershey is now in the mix; especially for anyone who preferred her to Kunis in the movie. Manville? Her last shot to push into 5 “somewhere”. Richardson, a surprise 5th? etc. Loving this.
And Supporting Actor: is Garfield now in for sure with BAFTA’s help? Is the last spot Renner (Town’s only), Damon (late True Girt surge), Hawkes (SAG nominee), Rockwell, or a surprise?
Loving this. We needed this slight shake-up.
Bale might actually lose the SA category for once.
“Over in Best Score, we know that the music branch would have nominated Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, but their work evidently went over the heads of the non-pros, who replaced it with “127 Hours.” ”
Non-Pros? This is exactly a Pro would do, coz a Pro knows that there is more to music than just creating an ambience for visuals on screen. Its always the non-pros who fall for rhythmic sound effects that creates a electronic ambience for a beloved movie.
Personally i loved the background score of TSN only till the point that i could classify them more as classy sounds that fit the movie. I listened for umpteen times the score on my music player and it did not bring me any sort of images from the film, all i felt was nostalgia for the computer games i played 20 years back!
If you thot that “127 Hours” music was an unworthy substitute, that just talks about your hate for that movie!!!
Speaking of The Illusionist, how the eff did that end up back on the right column?
I thought the general consensus was Tangled and even Despicable Me had bigger chances of getting that third slot?
As for the BAFTA nominations, I think they’re pretty decent and I applaud them for putting Steinfeld in lead.
So glad Kunis was ignored here. Though I wish Rosamund Pike had made the final cut.
BAFTA always seems to have a love/hate thing with Mike Leigh.
Looking forward to seeing Carey Mulligan present the best actor BAFTA to Firth if all goes to plan.
Is there a more overrated actress out there than Amy Adams? Serious question?
Most actors reach a point where their work is being taken for granted despite it’s consistent greatness.
Adams, on the other hand, is an example of someone who is constantly being recognized for unispired mediocrity.
But then judging by what they nominated BAFTA’s wouldn’t know great work anyway.
Having finally seen it, I could not be more extatic for True Grit – the best directed (and masterfully edited) film of the year.